It dawned on me yesterday, while watching our lower lake being stocked with foot long speckled trout, that camp is really starting in 17 days. Over the last three weeks we hosted Camp Unleashed (the camp for dogs and the “people” who go to camp with them, a J-tribes group from the Charlotte J.C.C. and The Woods Charter School from Raleigh) so camp is up and running and ready for “real camp” to begin.
Today, two big truck loads of new, very bright, white sand is being spread over the beach, and we are having Bar-B-Q beef for dinner! Tonight our rather large group of NBA fans will be watching the Heat and Bulls…more Heat Fans than Bull fans of course…but Cam Waterfront and Jerome Maintenance still have hope for the Bulls. Tuesday night all the staff here for pre-camp or the Blue Star Training Institute went to Strykes for Bowling. Shaz Waterfront had the high score and won the $50 prize.
Candy and I have been at camp since May 1st helping to bring Blue Star to life for 2011. Believe it or not this is our 40th season as Blue Star’s Camp Directors…As some of you know I can still act like a child (not in the best way possible) and Candy still looks like a girl to me. Anyway, camp is already filled with some of our favorite returning staff and some nice new ones all helping to roll it out of hibernation and back to life. This Saturday all the Unit Leaders arrive for their Training week. We all know that camp is not really “fully alive” until our campers get here…Dream big, live courageously!
Rodger
be ready roger. i retire from the world of social work in a few years. i can be shelly main office? shelly grannys? shelly mail room? shelly whatever. … but i want to be shelly something at the palce that helped me became who i am today.
love you all always <3
The first ever Rodger Popkin blog read in Melbourne Australia by Cap. Magic, mate. Can hear your voice in the words. Shalom to Candy and all Blue Star folk.
Have just read this and feel like I am there myself getting ready for another season! 4 month old Olive is sitting next to me and who knows maybe one day she’ll experience Camp for herself, she’ll definitely hear all about it from me and her Mum!!
I am remembering my 1962 summer as a cabin leader in what was then T-3, and dealt with a kid named Rodger Popkin and his first cousin, Michael Popkin. Shall I say challenging? Almost 50 years ago. As my now-38+ year old daughter says:”The frog on the lily pad says to his buddies:’Time’s sure fun when you’re having flies!!'” Have a great summer!
Michael Lerner (summers 1953-’62, ’65, ’74-’78)
Hi Roger, It is your old massage therapist Julianna. Hope you are doing great. Please send my love to Candy.
Great writing … feeling the camp vibe … fully alive!
Dear Rodger,
Blue Star is ever present in my mind. The smell of the morning air, laughter of the children, enthusiasm of the staff and campers getting together for that all too important program or special trip, and the warm mournful crying, over the campfire, on the last night when singing and saying goodbye to dear friends who have connected over the summer.
Alan died several years ago from ALS and with this in mind I remember happier times. I hope you and your family are well.